Reign - John 18:33-37 - Reign of Christ - 11-21-21

 

Sermon podcast from the Reign of Christ Sunday, 11-21-21 worship service - St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL. John 18:33-37

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"Reign" podcast

The whole worship service

Reign

Sermon podcast from today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  John 18:33-37.  Stop pursuing money and power and domination while you’re wrapping yourself with a flag or a cross!

Video sermon preview




"Reign" podcast

Wise

Today's sermon podcast from St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Stop pursuing money and power and domination while you’re wrapping yourself with a flag or a cross. 
"Wise" podcast

Not From Here

This week's Bible reflection, (What have you done?) asks a beginning question -- and there are more, along with some upside-down thoughts in Sunday's sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Not From Here" text
"Not From Here" podcast

What have you done?

It's the kind of question from which no good can come.

After returning from an early morning shopping trip - having spent hundreds more than planned:
"What have you done?!"

What you say to the dog that has decided to chew up and eat your sofa.
"What have you done?!"

Upon looking at the room of a child who has spent the last two hours 'cleaning' it.
"What have you done?!" (all this time?!)

Or, in the case of this week's Bible reading from John 18:33-37 - What Pilate asked Jesus -- wondering why folks were so adamant about handing over someone who seems innocent for severe punishment.
"What have you done?" (that folks are so upset with you?)

Jesus had set the world upside-down.  He'd given people a new way of thinking.  He's challenged the way everything was 'supposed to be.'  He'd talked about ideas that were dangerous to the powerful and to the status quo. He'd begun something people would be talking about . . . to this day.

He's still doing it.

The Truth (Sunday's sermon)

The Bible study blog entry this week for i.ucc has the same name as this Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL. That happens every once in awhile.
"The Truth" text
"The Truth" podcast

The Truth

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc:

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. John 8:32
I am the way and the truth and the life – no one comes to the father except through me. John 14:6

The word “Truth” is in the Bible between 130 and 300 times (depending on which translation you are using.)
That is way more than preach (about a dozen times), way less than Love (over 500 times) and about the same as money.

Does that mean that truth is way more important than preaching, way less important than love, and about as important as money?

Some would make that leap. I will not.

So what does that mean? I don’t know.
I have heard people debate what is true. I have heard people argue the very nature of the word truth – if it could really exist – if there is absolute truth . . .
The numbers game and the endless debate are tiring.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice – says Jesus

Instead of focusing on “What is the nature of truth?” or "What is truth?” Let's focus on what Jesus said. How do we belong to the truth – how do we listen?

What will we do to listen the voice of Jesus – to the voice of the stillspeaking God – to experience, to know, and to belong the truth?